mousing around and fine-tuning


  1. Posts : 337
    W10 22H2 19045.4355
       #1

    mousing around and fine-tuning


    Many many years ago in a far far away galaxy I had a mouse utility that allowed you to fine-tune and adjust everything in matters mouse including the pointer.

    For example: the response area size of the tip of the arrow, and most importantly when sizing a window the pixel range where the mouse pointer switches over to the sizing pointer, like e.g. 2- 3 pixels tolerance and not the current default setting of 1pixel.

    Since the geniuses of Windows 10 et al decided that you have to be accurate within 1 pixel for that sizing double arrow to show and function good luck with that if you have a 4K screen resolution. It's very frustrating to say the least.
    As it is right now I have to be exactly with the pointer on the edge of a window otherwise it will not work.

    Anyone know of a mouse utility app that allows you to fine-tune the aforementioned settings?
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  2. Posts : 43,029
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, an alternative approach is to use a 3rd party utility that allows you (e.g.) to press a key and then click and drag anywhere in the window to move or resize it. this can also be useful in the occasional case of a window going partly off-screen - or should yuo wish to move one partly off-screen.

    I used to use Altdrag, but this has become unreliable. There are other older utilities but these also seem to have incompatibilities.

    I've had a look around as this has been something I meant to find, and have found one or two implemented in Autohotkey (a free scripting tool that in particular supports interaction with windows) that work smoothly and effectively.

    One I found today is Simplewindowsdrag.ahk.

    (By default this uses F14 - I edited it to replace F14 with CTRL) .

    So CTRL + left drag moves; CTRL + rt drag resizes.

    It has a lot of other options.
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  3. Posts : 337
    W10 22H2 19045.4355
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for the info, I will check it out!
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  4. Posts : 43,029
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    Note- ahk files can be compiled to create an exe file.. but if you wish to change the keyboard buttons you need to edit the script (neatly written, quite short).

    There may be a freeware tool that actually works of course... plenty of people have looked at this. It will have to be something 'current' - there are some for XP/Win 7.... I've tried a couple and they are useless now when dragging.
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  5. Posts : 337
    W10 22H2 19045.4355
    Thread Starter
       #5

    The one I had back in the XP days allowed you to set the active zone on a cursor (arrow point) or when sizing the double arrow triggering area. But today to no avail.
    I suggested it yesterday to the PowerToys development team. We'll see if I get an answer and what.

    FYI: below what I posted as a feature request at GitHub/Powertoys
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    An adjustable/tunable mouse pointer active zone utility app.

    Description of the new feature / enhancement
    Many many years ago in a far far away galaxy I had a mouse utility that allowed to fine-tune and adjust everything in matters mouse including the pointer active zone area (tip).

    For example: the response active area size of the tip of the pointer arrow, 1 or more pixels or even at a different location i.e. in the center of the pointer arrow.

    Most importantly, when sizing a window, the pixel range where the mouse pointer switches over to the sizing double arrow over the windows border. For example 2 - 3 pixels or more tolerance and not the current default setting of 1pixel.

    Scenario when this would be used?
    Since the geniuses of Windows 10 et al decided that now on the borderless windows you have to be accurate within 1 pixel for that sizing double arrow to show and function, good luck with that if you have a 4K screen resolution. It's very frustrating and nearly impossible to say the least. next to impossible on a touchpad.
    As it is right now, I have to be exactly with the pointer [tip] over edge of a window otherwise it will not work and I never get the sizing double arrow.

    To be clear I don't mean a mouse pointer design app.
    Rather a utility app that allows to adjust the default active area of the default mouse pointer et al.

    Supporting information
    I tried to find such out there but I have not gotten any relevant results.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Last edited by 3Bit; 10 Jul 2023 at 12:11.
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  6. Posts : 43,029
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    There's this.. noting how gaming mice may make it more convenient..
    How to Boost Your Mouse Pointing Accuracy in Windows

    And I really do suggest trying the utility... I've attached an exe file (zipped) - CTRL left or right drag - click anywhere in a window. E.g. Wordpad is a simple one to try. Just run the exe file (may need to add an AV exception because of the hook used). It appears in the tray.
    mousing around and fine-tuning Attached Files
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  7. Posts : 337
    W10 22H2 19045.4355
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thanks! Will try it out and let you know!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 43,029
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8

    Full list of what it can do:
    ; The goal with this script is to easily snap, move and resize windows with a single
    ; key press and a mouse :
    ; 1) Hold down the CTRL key and LEFT-click anywhere inside a window to drag it to
    ; a new location.
    ; 2) Hold down CTRL and RIGHT-click-drag anywhere inside a window to easily resize it.
    ; 3) Hold down CTRL and MIDDLE-click-drag to perform different actions : maximize,
    ; always on top or snap a window.
    ; 4) Hold down CTRL and MIDDLE-click without moving to minimize the window under
    ; the mouse cursor.
    ;
    ; Shortcuts :
    ; CTRL + Left Button + Drag : Move a window.
    ; CTRL + Right Button + Drag : Resize a window.
    ; CTRL + Middle Button + Drag Up : Maximize/Restore a window.
    ; CTRL + Middle Button + Drag Down : Always On Top a window.
    ; CTRL + Middle Button + Drag Right : Snap to the Right half.
    ; CTRL + Middle Button + Drag Left : Snap to the Left half.
    ; CTRL + Middle Button + Drag Top Right Corner : Snap to the Top-Right quarter.
    ; CTRL + Middle Button + Drag Top Left Corner : Snap to the Top-Left quarter.
    ; CTRL + Middle Button + Drag Bottom Right Corner : Snap to Bottom-Right quarter.
    ; CTRL + Middle Button + Drag Bottom Left Corner : Snap to the Bottom-Left quarter.
    ; CTRL + Click Middle Button : Minimize a window.
    ; CTRL + Numpad : Snap the active window.
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